If I say, “I will not mention the Lord, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! Jeremiah : 20 : 9 - 10Readings this week : Ezekiel 2 : 1 - 5; 2 Corinthians 12 : 2 - 10; Mark 6 : 1 - 13Thought for this weekJeremiah’s was a hard calling. Not because it required great skill or special abilities, He didn’t need to build an organisation or even a team. His calling was hard because people’s hearts were hard. They had lost their faith and trust in the Lord. They had stopped listening to the Lord who loved them.Jeremiah suffered physical suffering, marginalisation, even abuse. Just as so many Christians today across the world suffer these things in their daily lives, in witnessing to their faith in Jesus.Yet also there was the fact that people turned away from the message. Felt they had no need to turn to the Lord. Became used to living their lives in their own way, looking to their own achievements. I wonder if this seems similar to our own situation? Yet for Jeremiah the message ‘burned’ within him The Lord’s love for His people, urging them to turn back to Him. What is the Lord saying to us? I believe we are called to grasp the sheer love of the Lord for all people. To pray urgently and passionately that others will hear the Good News of Jesus and be saved. To receive the Lord’s love and mercy. To turn to Jesus while there is still time.Rev PaulPrayer of Commitment(based on Jeremiah 20, Mark 6: 7-13)Lord God, just as You called your prophets long ago, so You call each one of us to speak and act on Your behalf in our world today.Forgive us when we are hesitant to follow: when we question Your call or make excuses for our abilities; when we complain about our lack of time, or hoard our resources.Give us courage to step out in faith, to go where you send us without hesitation or fear, trusting that Your presence goes with us, and that You will provide all that we need. Amen.People to pray forOur new GovernmentThose waiting for hospital treatmentFor the persecuted church
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 7th July 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 7th July 11:15 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Monday 8th July 2.00 pm PCC (at St Peter’s)Monday 8th July 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 9th July 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 9th July 2:00 pm APA course (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 9th July 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 10th July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 10th July 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 10th July 6:30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 11th July 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 11th July 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 12th July 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Saturday 13th July 10.00 am Alpha Holy Spirit Day (at St Ed’s and livestream)Also Sunday 14th July, At St Ed’s 8am Holy Communion, 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Morning worship. Plus online 11:15am Informal Service. For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: July 8th 2:00 pm PCC meeting (in St Peter’s)July 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion (in St Peter’s)Strawberry tea Thursday 18th July 2.30 – 4.30 pm in Deidre Porter’s Garden (23 The Street). All welcome. It will be in aid of the church projects, and donations will be gratefully received.Tuesday mornings at St Ed’s will continue through the summer. We have craft materials and games for any older children that might want to come during the summer holidays. Each Tuesday at St Ed’s 10.00am to 12.00pm.St Ed's Chancel thatch has been completed. We praise the Lord for this huge step forward.
This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6 : 16Readings this week : Lamentations 3 : 23 - 33; 2 Corinthians 8 : 7 - end; Mark 5 : 21 - endThought for this weekThe prophet Jeremiah was given a hard task to fulfil. To carry the message from the Lord’s heart to His people to turn from their ways back to Him. Yet the people’s hearts had grown hard and cold. They had put their trust in other nations and other gods. The Lord told Jeremiah as he delivered the message that the people would not hear.Yet the Lord did not give up, even though it would eventually lead to exile and punishment. Yet throughout Jeremiah’s prophecy there is the Lord’s unwavering love for His people. His complete commitment to them. His heart turned to them, even though it was hurting :“For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me”. (Jeremiah 8 : 21)In Jeremiah’s time there was deceit, oppression, immorality, greed. All the pitfalls human life can fall into in every age, even today.Yet the Lord’s response was not only to keep loving us, but even to send Jesus to give His life for us, for our forgiveness and a new beginning in Him. This is the Lord’s boundless mercy and love for you and for me. Praise the Lord for His endless, generous love. Rev PaulPrayer for this weekAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, AmenPrayer based on Psalm 30Sing praises to God, all you faithful ones God hears us in our fear and our sorrowWhere there was no wayGod leads us in a new wayWhere there was no mercyGod surprises us with fresh mercyWhere there was weepingGod invites us to step into a new dance.— written by Rev. Susan A. Blain, and posted on the Worship Ways website. http://uccfiles.com/People to pray forOur schools as they approach the end of termThe approach to the election
The following services will be available via the St Ed's Facebook page or by attendance (as stated below). Sunday 20th June 8:00am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Sunday 30th June 9:30am Mustard Tree– informal service for families and children. (at St Ed’s)Sunday 30th June 11:15 am Morning Worship (at St Ed’s and livestream)Sunday 30th June 12:30 pm bring and share lunch (at St Ed’s)Monday 1st July 5.00 pm Evening prayers (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 2nd July 10:00 am Tiny Tunes (music for all young people) (at St Ed’s), refreshments10am til12 noonTuesday 2nd July 2:00 pm APA course (at St Ed’s)Tuesday 2nd July 6:00 pm Rspace (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 3rd July 10:30 am Holy Communion (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 3rd July 5:00 pm Evening Prayer (at St Ed’s)Wednesday 3rd July 6:30 pm Alpha Bible Study (at St Ed’s)Thursday 4th July 8.30am Church caretaking team (at St Ed’s )Thursday 4th July 7.00pm Compline with meditation (at St Ed’s and livestream) Friday 5th July 9:30 am to12.00 noon Arts and Craft Group , - bring anything – art or craft - you fancy doing and coffee and tea are provided. (at Trinity church)Also Sunday 7th July, At St Ed’s 9:30 am Mustard Tree, 11:15 am Holy Communion.For on-line services, watch live if you are able --- or join later on 'catch up'.Everyone welcome.AdditionallyRingland: future services/events for Ringland St Peter’s: July 8th 2:00 pm PCC meeting (in St Peter’s)July 14th 10:30 am Holy Communion (in St Peter’s)Taverham Fair our Churches Together stall went well – the first we have held as a joint venture. I hope this is something we can build on for future years . PaulFifth Sunday (30th) we will be focussing on the prophetic book of Jeremiah. This will also continue on 7th July.Bring and Share lunch at St Ed's today ( Sunday 30th June) from 12.45pm. This is to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Rev Stella’s and Rev Paul’s Ordinations and Rachel’s 35th anniversary of Commissioning. Everyone welcome.Strawberry tea Thursday 18th July 2.30 – 4.30 pm in Deidre Porter’s Garden (23 The Street). All welcome. It will be in aid of the church projects, and donations will be gratefully received.St Ed's Plant stall raised £270. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
